Geek Alert - June Loot Crate

It's Loot Crate time.  Sometimes I'm unsure about the themes Loot Crate come up with as they don't always appeal but they do inspire me to expand my geek knowledge and I get to learn about different films or games that I have heard about but have never bothered to experience.  Or even companies.

Heather Lynn Rigaud - Fitzwilliam Darcy, Rock Star

I am no stranger to romance novels; I've read different books that fall under the ambiguous genre such as paranormal ones, the Lords of the Underworld series for example, and the more mundane, the first in the Sinners on Tour and numerous chick-lit books, and I'm not particularly prudish when it comes to matters of romance so this modern adaptation of Pride and Prejudice intrigued me where I knew the relationships that I had enjoyed from Austen's classic escalated to a greater degree than the original, something that could be interesting if handled well.

Fitzwilliam Darcy: Rock Star is the modern-day adaptation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice written by Heather Lynn Rigaud.  Most people know the story, having read the book or seen the film and/or TV series; Pride and Prejudice follows the exploits of Elizabeth Bennett and her four sisters as they meet Fitzwilliam Darcy and his friend, Charles Bingley; immediately, Elizabeth and Darcy clash because they find one another to have too much pride and events conspire to keep them apart even though they slowly fall in love with one another.  It's a classic love story which makes many people swoon and has been retold in many ways, Fitzwilliam Darcy: Rock Star is just one more to add to the collection, providing someone else's perspective on the story.

Rating: 8

Recommended To: Romance fans; not for the Austen purists

Favourite Characters: Darcy

Favourite Part: Darcy's lips curled.  "I think I like calling you Elizabeth.  It's something no one else does."
Elizabeth nodded.  "Except my mother, when she's mad."
Darcy lost the battle against his self-control and leaned over and kissed her smiling lips.  "Perhaps you could call me Fitzwilliam, since no one else does," he said conversationally, the tone of his voice was greatly relaxed.
She replied in the same easy tone, "Not even your sister, when she's mad?"
Darcy shook his head.  "No, she hits me when she's mad."
"That's because you're a moron," Georgiana grumbled from ahead of them.
Elizabeth laughed, her buoyant joy warming Darcy as he watched her, completely bewitched. - Page 312

Good Points: Characters adapted well into the story; shows other points of view; music being a connection between Elizabeth and Darcy

Bad Points: Sex scenes become excessive; missed the Bennetts

Diana Gabaldon - Cross Stitch

It may have come to your attention that every so often I get obsessed with something, normally it's comic book-related but sometimes it's book-related.  Recently I became hooked on the TV adaptation of Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series for some random reason so I decided to read the book that started it all, for comparison and because I have fallen in love with the characters and their stories.  I bought the book ages ago with the intention to read it before I watched the series but something made me change my mind so I knew that certain events will occur in the book, given that many people have praised the series on its loyalty to the book.  Maybe it was the draw of a large, good looking Scot in a kilt.

Cross Stitch AKA Outlander in the US by Diana Gabaldon is the first book in the Outlander series which focusses on Claire Randall who is on her second honeymoon in Scotland with her husband, Frank, in 1945 following the Second World War.  While wandering the Scottish Highlands, Claire comes across a stone circle and is somehow transported back in time to 1793.  Unsure how she got there and worried for her life, she runs to keep safe but eventually makes it her mission to return to Frank in 1945.

Rating: 10

Recommended To: Historical romance fans; though it is dark

Favourite Characters: Jamie - a bundle of contradictions

Favourite Part: 'Are ye mad, man?' [Dougal] hissed at last.  'What if someone's to see ye!'
Jamie cocked a sardonic eyebrow at the older man.  'Why Uncle,' he said.  'Insults?  And on my wedding day too.  You wouldna have me shame my wife now, would ye?  Besides,' he added with a malicious gleam, 'I hardly think it would be legal, did I not marry in my own name.  and you want it legal, now, don't you?' - Page 271

Good Points: Interesting premise; well-developed characters; Claire and Jamie

Bad Points: Very graphic and sexual at points

Geek Alert - June My Geek Box

Spoilers
Always get Doctor Who flashbacks when I see that word.

I know I said I was cancelling My Geek Box but I still get the emails announcing the themes and such and they announced an exclusive Funko! Pop was going to be in the June box so I decided to renew my subscription for one month because I was curious what it would be, especially given the theme.

Maria V. Snyder - Shadow Study

I love Maria V. Snyder's books especially her Study series so I was thrilled when I found out she was continuing it in another trilogy and bought it the moment I could find it.  Unfortunately, I was delayed in reading it because I was busy with other aspects of my life but I have had a chance to sit down and relax.

Shadow Study is the fourth book in Maria V. Snyder's Study series as well as the seventh in the first in the Soulfinders series, a new trilogy on its own, and The Chronicles of Ixia series; The Chronicle of Ixia series is the Study series which focusses on Yelena and her supporting cast and the Glass series which is a spin off from the Study series featuring Opal, a young girl who Yelena meets in the second book of the Study series.  The Study series focusses on Yelena Liana Zaltana, a young woman who becomes the Commander of Ixia's food taster after an offer made to her by the Commander's Chief of Security, Valek, after she murdered her former master a year ago; though she has opportunity to escape, Yelena is forced to stay in the castle under the pretence she is poisoned and has to have an antidote every day.  While working as the food taster, Yelena makes friends with at least two of the Commander's soldiers, Ari and Janco who help train Yelena to defend herself.  It comes to light that Yelena is in possession of some very strong magical powers which she doesn't understand which could threaten both her life (because of herself and because all of those who have powers in Ixia are killed by Valek) and the existence of magic if not learnt to control.  However, Yelena learns how to control her powers just enough so to help save the Commander's life when it is threatened by a magician who is working for one of the Commander's generals, bringing his soul back to his body, simultaneously learning the Commander's secret.  Due to magicians being banned from Ixia, Yelena has to escape to Sitia (and away from Valek who has become incredibly important to Yelena) with the help of a Sitian magician, Irys, so she won't be killed and returns home to a family she doesn't remember.  Once back in Sitia and in the Zaltana compound, Yelena is faced with family she doesn't remember and she receives mixed reactions to her reappearance - elation from her mother and father but hatred from an older brother she can't remember who believes she is an Ixian spy.  Before she can properly get to know her family again, she has to go to the Keep where all magicians are trained to control their power where she is met with fear from the First Magician and some of her fellow students.  Fortunately, she proves that she is not a spy or a danger to magicians everywhere when she stops another magician from sacrificing young girls to gain more power by using the unusual powers that she possesses.  Yelena is told that she is a Soulfinder, a rare type of magician who can help ferry souls on to the next part of their journey, a role she has to learn to accept with the assistance of not only the magicians of the Keep but her brother - Leif, Valek, and someone who says he is her Story Weaver, a guide if you will for her life when she is faced with the challenge of a Fire Warper, a magician trapped on another plain who threatens the existence of magic in the real world.

I have tried to sum up the first three books as much as I could in a condensed version, it was longer before I edited it down, but if you want all of the background, go read them.

Rating: 9

Recommended To: Maria V. Snyder fans; fantasy fans

Favourite Characters: 

Favourite Part: "Oh, my, you gave me such a fright!"  Petal ushered us inside.  "Come in, come in.  What kind of trouble are you two in now?"
"Seems like you have a reputation, dear sister," Leif muttered.
"I believe she was referring to you as well, dear brother." - Page 129

Good Points: Multiple point of views; Yelena and Leif; character development; twists and mystery

Bad Points: Ending seems rushed; really need to read the other books too

Tomorrowland - A World Beyond

Once again, my mum and I went to the cinema to see the latest Disney film for a couple of reasons; one because it looked interesting with the various action sequences shown in the trailer and two because my mum likes George Clooney, always has.

Tomorrowland - A World Beyond is the 2015 action adventure film by Brad Bird from Disney Studios with stars including George Clooney (Ocean's Eleven, Up in the Air), Hugh Laurie (House, Blackadder), Britt Robertson (The Longest Ride, Under the Dome), Raffey Cassidy (Snow White and the Huntsman, Dark Shadows), Tim McGraw (The Blind Side, Country Strong), Kathryn Hahn (Parks and Recreation, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy), and Keegan-Michael Key (The Lego Movie, Key and Peele).

Rating: 7

Recommended To: Clooney fans; action/adventure fans

Favourite Characters: Frank

Favourite Part: Nate: Why do you love the stars so much? 
Casey: Because I want to go there.
Nate: What if nothing is there?
Casey: What if everything's there?

Good Points: Great concept; visually spectacular; Casey and Frank's relationship

Bad Points: Took a while to get into the story; parts seemed forgotten